Douluo Dalu 2: Reincarnated as the Auspicious Beast

The God of Destruction left while grumbling, dragging the God of Emotions along.

Without hesitation, Xiao Wu sat in the seat that Rong Nianbing had vacated, snuggling up affectionately to the Goddess of Life. With a mischievous smile, she teased, "Hmph, you naughty woman who enjoys watching your husband get jealous! Be honest, did you do that on purpose?"

"Yes, I did." The Goddess of Life chuckled, her gaze soft and tender. She murmured, "Just now, Xiao Zi looked so adorable… No wonder people say that a little jealousy helps keep love sweet."

For billions of years, she and the God of Destruction had been inseparable, but this was the first time she had seen him openly display such possessiveness and jealousy… It was truly endearing.

"Xiao Lu, you've become bad too. Hehe." Xiao Wu's eyes curved into crescents as she grinned playfully.

Even though she was already a mother, the woman in pink still smiled like the young girl who had once stepped out of Star Dou Forest… But few people truly understood the changes in her heart.

"By the way, what did the God of Emotions want from you?" Xiao Wu asked casually, though there was an underlying intent in her words.

"You know that my Golden Tree allows me to observe the lower realms. The God of Emotions wants to find a successor, but he can't openly ask the Divine Realm Committee to use the Divine Eye, so he came to me instead." The Goddess of Life smiled, lightly skimming over the fact that she had secretly guided Rong Nianbing toward the Douluo World.

Xiao Wu nodded in realization and relaxed, not noticing the Goddess of Life's subtle omission—after all, she didn't particularly enjoy nor excel at such matters. She had only asked because of Tang San.

Her San-ge had always hoped to win the support of the God of Emotions, but the God of Destruction seemed to have an unspoken rivalry with Tang San. Xiao Wu wasn't entirely sure about the deeper conflicts between them; after all, she wasn't qualified to attend those core meetings, and Tang San always protected her, never sharing his worries with her.

Still, she felt somewhat guilty—after all, the Goddess of Life was her friend. But… nothing was more important to her than Tang San.

"Let's not talk about that." The Goddess of Life noticed the shift in Xiao Wu's expression and poured her another cup of tea. A slender green vine carefully lifted a plate of delicate pastries. "Try some of these. The God of Emotions brought them to bribe me, but I haven't agreed to lend him any Golden Trees from the lower realms yet."

"Mmm, delicious!" Xiao Wu picked up an orange-red pastry—just the right carrot flavor—nodding in satisfaction. After hearing the Goddess of Life's explanation, the last bit of doubt in her heart faded.

Xiao Wu chuckled mischievously and leaned in. "Xiao Lu, you should squeeze more treats out of the God of Emotions. It's not easy to get him to cook, you know."

"Where's your little troublemaker? Why didn't she come with you? I even set some aside for Xiao Qi to take home." The Goddess of Life smiled and asked.

Tang Xiaoqi was one of the few children in the Divine Realm and was especially close to both her and the God of Destruction. Since they had no children of their own, they truly adored that little girl.

"Don't mention it. That little rascal sneaked off to the lower realm by herself." Xiao Wu sighed. "I used to think that once she was gone, I could finally have some alone time with San-ge, but now that she's really left, the one struggling the most is me…"

"When did this happen?" The Goddess of Life was surprised.

It was no small matter for a divine being to descend to the mortal world, especially since Xiao Qi carried the Butterfly God's legacy. Though she hadn't fully inherited the god position yet and wasn't officially a deity, she was still Tang San's daughter. This could be a big deal or a small one, depending on how things unfolded. More importantly, the Goddess of Life was worried about Xiao Qi's safety.

"Yesterday morning. When I went to her room, she was already gone." Xiao Wu said gloomily.

The Goddess of Life frowned. "Did the Sea God not bring her back?"

"No." Xiao Wu shook her head, her tone heavy with emotion. "Xiao Qi went to our homeland—the Douluo World. San-ge said it would be good for her to experience some trials before returning… There are still descendants of his old friends in the Douluo World, so someone will take care of her."

"How can this be?" The Goddess of Life's eyes widened in shock. "One day in the Divine Realm equals a year in the lower realm! Xiao Qi isn't even a proper divine official yet. She's still just a child, and her strength isn't at its peak. Without the Divine Realm's protection, she'll be completely subject to the passage of time in the mortal world!"

Time had no effect on true gods. A deity could spend thousands or millions of years in the lower realms without aging. But Xiao Qi, who hadn't completed her inheritance, was different!

"Yeah… By the time Xiao Qi returns… she'll be grown up." Xiao Wu smiled, but her eyes held an undeniable sadness. "Growing up is good. It means she'll be more mature."

"This is ridiculous!" The Goddess of Life scolded.

Though she had no right to interfere in the Sea God couple's parenting decisions, she truly cared for that sweet little girl.

"You're just letting Tang San do whatever he wants? Training? Can't she train after she grows up? Xiao Qi will experience time normally in the lower world, while you, as her parents, will miss the most important years of her life! How can you bear to let her grow up alone, without her father or mother?"

A carefree childhood only happens once in a lifetime. The time a child can spend nestled in their parents' arms is so short…

In truth, Xiao Wu hadn't wanted Xiao Qi to leave either. The saying goes that a mother worries when her child travels far… And this wasn't just any distance—it was the gap between the Divine Realm and the mortal world!

What if something happened to Xiao Qi? Though Da Ming and Er Ming would look after her, they had to remain discreet outside the Clear Sky Fortress. If they made too much of a commotion, it could draw the Divine Realm's attention. And what if Xiao Qi was bullied?

Besides, Tang San was busy every day and couldn't always be by her side. Only their daughter had truly kept Xiao Wu company…

But human children weren't the same as rabbits.

Having grown up in the Star Dou Forest as a rabbit, Xiao Wu had never experienced a human childhood. Her upbringing hadn't prepared her to understand how to raise a child or be a mother.

She loved Xiao Qi deeply—clumsily, but no less than any other mother.

"Xiao Qi has a bad temper… The lower realm can help smooth her personality, make her more mature." Xiao Wu murmured.

She was repeating Tang San's words, as if explaining to the Goddess of Life, but more like convincing herself.

"She has no peers in the Divine Realm and needs friends her age… Strength gained too easily in the Divine Realm isn't solid. She needs hardships to temper her foundation…"

She wasn't willing to let her daughter suffer—she had just grown used to giving in.

Even in the deepest love, conflicts arise. In any relationship, one side inevitably compromises.

Xiao Wu always told herself that San Ge had his reasons, that his choices were right, that his plans mattered most. She changed her combat skills, said farewell to old friends, altered her personality, and even bore the burden of the Asura God's sword—despite its mismatched nature.

Because she loved Tang San that much.

Her love for him made her take a step back, yet this time, unease lingered in her heart.

But no matter how unhappy she was with his decision, she would never show it, much less reveal any resentment in front of the Goddess of Life.

Realizing she had misspoken, Xiao Wu quickly took a sip of tea, sighing in contentment. "Xiao Lu, your tea is always the best."

The Goddess of Life sighed and refilled her cup, speaking meaningfully. "Drink more, then… This tea carries the power of life. Your body… Sigh, you and Tang San should take it easy. These things can't be rushed."

Xiao Wu nearly choked. "Cough—Xiao Lu, you noticed?" Then, slapping her forehead, she stuck out her tongue. "Of course, you're the Goddess of Life. But don't tell San Ge, okay? I don't want him to be sad."

She lowered her gaze, touching her abdomen. A faint, fragile presence had quietly faded away. "It lasted over half a month this time… I thought it was finally stable…"

Not all seeds can grow into saplings. The Goddess of Life gazed at Xiao Wu with a trace of pity in her eyes, mixed with a subtle bitterness.

There are many factors that affect the growth of new life within a mother's womb. In the early stages of pregnancy, most seeds quietly perish—silently absorbed by the mother's body or expelled without her even noticing.

This is a process even the Goddess of Life cannot interfere with. The union of two bloodlines is filled with uncertainty, and the seeds formed often have defects, unable to grow into strong saplings. These seeds will naturally perish and leave the mother's body—it is the most fundamental "natural selection" of life.

But for a mother with great power, this process is particularly cruel.

The stronger one is, the greater their control over their own body. The clearer they can feel a new life emerging… and then vanishing.

That is far more brutal than never knowing it existed at all.

Even though Xiao Wu's power didn't fully belong to her, she had still reached that level… In fact, Tang San, who was even stronger and so closely connected to her, must have known as well.

Perhaps this was an unspoken understanding between the Sea God and his wife.

Yet, there was something different about Xiao Wu's condition this time. Compared to before, she seemed weaker, her aura chaotic and unstable, as if it had been disrupted by something…

There was even a lingering trace of the Sea God's power.

Had the Sea God been too impatient?

But there were too few women in the Divine Realm who successfully conceived. Lacking a point of reference, the Goddess of Life set aside her confusion for now.

"I'll help you adjust your body later," she said with a gentle smile.

"Thank you, Xiao Lu!" Xiao Wu beamed.

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Author's Note

Me: "I want to write a story where there are no absolute villains, and everyone has their own shining qualities!"

Also me: Where the hell are Tang San's shining qualities?!

Still me: I give up!

(End of chapter)